Sound reproducing mechanism



July 1s, 1933. E PANSH 1,918,777

SOUND REPRODUCING MECHANISM ATTORNEYS July 1s, 1933. E J PANISH 1,918,777

souun REPRoDucING MEcHANlsu l Filed Nov. 24, 1924 @sheets-Sheet 2 Y -ln /f' I 'ig-1 U) :I sa N L u g@ s, w nl N *151 N QQ I ,S l' 7i@ y lll I I i y l INVEN'roR v ATToRNEYs July 1s, 1933. E J, PMSH 1,918,777

SOUND 'REPRODUCING'v MECHANISM Filed Nov. 24. 1924 4 sheets-sheet 5 l l 1i s a I j i I I l Q Q z l a l l I I1 lj/T N la D @n N N w July 18, 1933- E. J PANlsH 1,918,777

YSOUND REPRODUCING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 24. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ininu limmun Emma July is. ma

UNITED STATES PATENT oar-ICEl EBWIN J'. PANIER, Ol' BBIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB 0F 1ONE-HALF TO mul B. CBAPIAN, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK scum) nnraonUcINe nncHANIsx Application mea number a4, m4. serial no. 751.1557.

The invention relates to a sound reproducin mechanism which is particularly adapted to be employed in locations in which the mechanism as a whole is inaccessible, for example, in connection with talking dolls, where the mechanism desirably is more or less rmanently fixed within the interior of the doll, and should be operable from the exterior in as simple a manner as possible. t

According to one feature of the inventlon the mechanism is operated by means of an actuating member which acts in step .by step fashion whereby merely by repeating .the same movement of such actuating member, all the necessary adjustments of the mechanism may be effected, thereby eliminating the possibility that the operator may produce the different adjustments in the wrong sequence or cause in'ury by unskillful operation. Preferably t e mechanism is operated by means of a tension member which extends to the exterior of the doll`whereby successive movements of such member will serve to start and stop the motor and automatically move the various parts such as the needle arm, braking device, etc. into proper position according to the phase of the cycle of operation of the machine which has just been completed.

The mechanism also includes various further constructional features tending toward compactness,simlicity, and reliability of operation, all of w 'ch will be in part obvious and in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinafter contained, which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention; such embodiment, however, is to be considered as merely illustrative of its principles. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dolls body having mounted therein a sound reproducing mechanism constructed in ac cordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but looking from the rear of the doll, whereas Fig. 1

.shows the mechanism as viewed from one side.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the mechanism detached, and taken along the lines 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is la side view of the mechanism as seen from the right of Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, while Fig. 6 is a similar section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing more particularly a cam slide which controls the position of the needle arm, viewed as indicated by the linev 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9 and 12 are detail views of a form Iof stop which may be employed in connection with the winding device of the mechanism, Figs. 8 and 9 being sectional views along the lines 8--8 and 9 9 of Figs. 12 and 4 respectively, while Fig. 12 shows the stop viewed from the line 12-12 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing detached actuating member of the mechanism, while Fi 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of ig. 10. The invention is illustrated as applied to a doll 1, in which the sound reproducin mechanism as a whole is suitably supported yla framework having side pieces 2 and 3.

e machine is shown as applied to a record 4 of the cylindrical type, which may be inserted into and withdrawn from the mechanism tlfrough a hole 5 (Fig. 2) in the doll body 1. The records are carried b a c'ylin-l drical supiort 6 (see Fig. 3), which support is mounte upon a shaft 7, and driven by a suitable motor, referably of the type hereinafter describe in greater detail.

I prefer to secure the record upon the record support 6 by a detachable spring fastener which will insure that the record is held securely in place. In the present form of the invention the outer end of the record is provided with an annular cup-shaped fitting 8 having a hole 9 therein adapted to receive a circular nut or head 10 upon the outer end of shaft 7, and a spring band l'is suitably secured to the fitting 8 in position to snap over the enlarged head of nut 10 to force the record ositively into position to hold the latter mly in place. Preferably one or more finger pieces 12 are struck up from the fitting 8 to provide a grip for the user in handling the record.

According to' one feature of the invention, the mechanism is so constructed that the record 4 can not be removed at times when the needle is in engagement therewith, and therefore liable to scratch the record, by providinga guard member 13 which is moved by the lever arm 14v in such manner as to overlap the end of the record 4 when the lever is set to operate the mechanism, and withdraw the guard member from obstructing position when the 'lever is moved to stop the mechanism. In the present embodiment of the invention the lever 14 is pivotally mounted upon a spindle 15 having bearings in the side pieces 2 and 3, and may be operated in a step-- by-step fashion by pulling upon a tension member such as the cord 16 extending to the exterior of the doll. The angular movement of lever 14 is limited in a suitable manner, as by a pin 17 therein engaging in a slot 18 in the side piece 2, a spring 19 normally holding the lever '14 in retracted position. The spindle 15 constitutes the main actuating member of the mechanism.

As is shown more in detail in Figs. 10 and 11, the lever 14 is provided with suitable ratchet teeth 20 cooperating with similar teeth 21 on a collar 22, which is fixed to the spindle 15. A s ring 23 is interposed between guard mem er 13 and lever 14, to urge the ratchet teeth of the latter into engagement with the teeth 21 above mentioned, land thus as the cord 16 is successively pulled, the teeth above described step the spindle 15 around a given angular distance during each pull. The guard member 13 is fixed upon spindle 15, and therefore moves into position to obstruct the withdrawal of the records during alternate pulls upon the cord 16.

Preferably the various mechanical parts for producing the necessary adjustments of the mechanism are all grouped about this spindlev 15, such parts in the present instance all consisting of cam members which are mounted'on the spindle so as to turn therewith.

' The braking device for the motor is applied and released upon successive movements of the actuating member 15. In the present instance this device consists of a pivoted lever 24 (Fig. 5) which is urged by a spring 25 to bear against an annular braking surface 26 (Figs. 2 and 6) upon the record supporting drum 6. A cam member 27 shown 'as rectangular is mounted on spindle 15 and bears against the tail of lever 24; thus in one position of the actuatin member 15, as shown in Fig. 5, one of t e corners of cam member 27 engages lever 24- and lifts the latter into position to release drum 6, and permit the mechanism to start. The next actuation of member 15 causes a fiat side of the cam member 27 to be presented to lever though normally 24,l whereby spring 25 moves the lever into braking position,and stops the rotation of drum 6. When brake 24 is released, guard member 13 obstructs removal of the record, and when the brake 'is applied the guard member 13 is moved to non-obstructing position. A needle arm 28 of the mechanism is constructed to move back and forth across the surface of the record 4. Preferably this needle arm is employed in connection with a fixed diaphragm 29 (Fig. 5) which is mounted in the fitting 30, secured to the frame work of the machine, and communicate's with a horn 31 extending to an openin 32 (Fig. 1) in the body of the doll. The needle arm 28 swings about anaxis which is substantially in line with a flexible torsional connecting member 33 which may be a silk thread, for example, extending between the needle arm and diaphragm 29. The movement of the needle arm thus will .not affect its connection to diaphragm 29.

The needle arm is supported from a forked bar 34 which is arranged to swin in two directions at right angles to each ot er. As shown, this bar is pivoted on a pin 35 (Fig. 5) extending through a stud 36, to permit the bar 34 and needle arm 28 to swing slightl toward and away from the record 4, ai urged toward the record by a sprlng 37 surrounding the pin 35 and bearing against a ledge 38 on bar 34. The stud 36 is in turn pivotally supported, as shown 1n Fig. 5, to swing on an axis substantially in line with the connecting member 33 a ove described, and thereby permit the needle arm 28 to swing back and forth across the surface of record 4.

Preferably the bar 34 has a counterweight f 39 which moves in recess 40 in the fitting 30 to counterbalance the weight of the needle arm and its support.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the needle arm 28 is automatically engaged with and disengaged from the recgord 4, according to the posltlon of actuating member 15.

As shown, a cam member 41, similar to the member 27 above described, is mounted on the spindle 15 in position to engage the supporting bar 34 above mentioned. Thus when actuating member 15 has been movedl to stop the machine, a corner of the `cam member 41 will lift bar 34 to disengage the needle arm from .the record, and the guard member 13 being in non-obstructing position at this time, the record may be Withdrawn and another one inserted without injury; but when actuating member 15 is next moved' to start the machine, a flat side of the cam member 41 will be presented to bar 34, permitting spring 37 to urge the needle arm 28 into engagement with the record. The needle arm then travels across the record in the usual manner, swinging about the stud 36 regular operations of the mechanism. VIf the and the connecting member 33 as an axis.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the needle bar 28, after being dis- 5 engaged from the record when the machine is' stopped, in the manner above described, is automatically moved back to its initial position, where it will properly engage a` record the next time the machine is started. This is accomplished by providing `cam members which are interposed between the actuating member 15 and the needle bar to effect the proper movements. As shown, the collar 22 above described as fixed upon the spindle 15, is provided with a series of spurs 42 which engage a lug 43 (see Figs. 6 and. 7) upon a cam slide 44, having an opening 45 therein which receives the supporting bar 34, and which is slidablyy mounted upon the fitting 30, as by means of screws 46 extending through slots 47 in the cam slide into the member. As the needle arm 28 moves across the surface of the record during operation of the machine, it moves the cam slide 44 along with it until lug 43 is positioned between two of the spurs 42 above mentioned. When actuating member- 15 is next moved, needle bar 28 is lifted away from Ythe record in the manner above described, and one of the spurs 42 engages lug 43 to push the cam slide backwards a distance equal to about one-half of the height of the spur. The above movement takes place in conjunction with the stopping of the machine. When actuatin member 15 is again moved to start the machine the same spur 42 is pushed entirely past the lug 43, pushing the latter backwards until the needle is positioned directly over the starting point of the record. The cam member 4l then permits the needle arm to move into engagement with the record.

Thus merely by successive pulls upon the actuating lever 14 the necessary adjustments within the interior of the mechanism are carried out to enable the machine to be started and stopped, and the needle moved as may be necessary to prevent injury to the records during removal or insertion, and to permit the needle to engage a new record at the proper point for beginning the reproduction thereof. Furthermore, the removal of the record is prevented during such periods in which injury might be caused thereby. It will be understood that althoughal. of the above-mentioned features of the invention are preferabl employed in conjunction, they need not e so combined unless desired. y

If the actuating member is pulled before the playing of the record is completed, the interlocking features of the actuating mechanism as above mentioned, will nevertheless lift oil' the needle and move it back to starting position as above described, whereby no injury is caused by the above and other 1rmachine is started while no record is in place, the cam member 41 engages bar 3 4 before the needle can come into contact with drum6, thus preventing injury to the needle.

The preferred form of Amotor isv shown more in detail in Fig. 3, from which it appears that the shaft 7 of the machine is journaled in a stationary sleeve 48 which is fixed to the side pieces of the framework. A large winding gear 49 is lixed to a rotatable collar 50 concentric with the sleeve above referred to, and fixed to the inner end of a. spiral spring 51, which latter in turn is affixed at its outer end to a shell 52 within the record drum 6. A further spiral spring 53 within the shell is fixed at its outer end to such'shell, and at its inner end to a rotatable sleeve 54, which is journaled over the sleeve 48 above referred to, and carries a large gear 55 at its outer end meshingwith a speed-increasing gear train including gears 56, 57 and a pinion 58 which is lixed on the main, shaft 7 to drive the record support. As shown, a gear 59 is-also mounted upon the end of shaft 7 to drive a governor mechanism (not illustrated) contained within the cas- 1n g,`60. The winding gear 49, as shown in Fig. 3, may be provided with an annular depression near its periphery to receive a rin 49A` which, in connection with a plate 49E engaging the other side of the gear, provides a bearing for the latter during the winding g operation.

Asis shown more in detail in Fig. 2, the wlndlng gear 49 and springs 51 and 53 may be wound up by means of a crank 61 which fits over the end of a spindle 62 carrying a p1n1on 63 which meshes with the gear 49. A dog 64 is mounted on pinion 62 frictionally pressed against spindle 63, as by a coil spring 64a interposed between the1 dog and the side piece 3 of the framework. The dog 64 is provided with a lug 65 (see Fig. 12) adapted to be interposed between the teeth of gears 49 and 63, and a stop 66 adapted to engage against a wall 67 (Figs. 8 and 9) of the framework. The result is that when the crank 61 is operated to wind up the springs, the gears 63 and 49 are turned in the direction indicated in Fig. 12, and dog 64 is frictionally carried around with pinion 63 until in without departin from its principles, as

I. prising a record'support, a motor for rotatprisin mg the same, a motion controlling member for said motor, a rotary spindle adapted to turn in step by step fashion associated with said actuating member, a braking dev1ce and a needle arm located adjacent said s indle,

cam members carried by said s indle a apted to control the position of said raking device and needle arm according to the position of said first mentioned-member, and means for operating said spindle in step by step fashion.

2. A sound reproducing mechanism comrising a record support, a motor for rotatmg the same, a needle arm pivoted to swing across the surface of a record carried by said support, a diaphragm with regard to which said needle arm moves when swinging as aforesaid, and a torsional connection between said diaphragm and said needle arm located substantially at the axis about which the needle arm swings as aforesaid.

3. A sound reproducing mechanism coma needle arm movable ver the surface o a record, a supporting bar connected to said arm, means for operating said bar to permit the same to be moved both toward and from the record and also parallel to the surface thereof, together with means engageable with said bar to effect the aforesaid movements thereof, an actuating member for said mechanism, said last mentioned means being operated by movement of said actuating member.

4. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a diaphragm, a needle arm having a torsional connection to said diaphragm, means pivotally supporting said needle arm to permit the same to swing about oneY axis lying substantially in said connection and also about a Second axis intersecting said irst mentioned axis.

5. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a record support driven by said motor, a` guard member associated with said record support, an operating member movable with respect to said guard member for starting said motor which controls the position of said guard member to prevent the withdrawal of a record from said support in one position of said operating member.

6. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a. motor, a record sup ort driven thereby, a rotary actuating mem er operable in step by step fashion to start and stop said motor, and a guard member associated with said record support and alternately moved to operative and inoperative position on the operation of' said actuating member.

7. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a, record support driven thereby, a shell enclosing said motor and recordl support, a rotary actuating member within sal shell operable in step by step fashion to start and stop said motor, and an operating member having a ratchet connection with said actuating member, said o erating member being manually operable rom the exterior of said shell, whereby successive operations of said operating member will start and sto saidmotor.

8. A soun reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a record support driven thereby, a guard member associated with said record support, a manual operating member movable with respect to said guard member for starting and stopping said motor and moving the guard member between operative and inoperative positions, a needle 'support movable across said record support and means deriving motion from movement of said operating member for lifting said needle support from record-engaging position.

9. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a record support driven thereby, a guard member associated with said record support, a manual operating member movable wlth respect to said guard member for starting and stopping said motor and moving the guard member between operative and inoperative positions, a needle support movable across said record support and means deriving its motion from said operating member for lifting the needle sup- 'port from record engaging position and moving 'the same back to initial position.

10. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a record support driven thereby, a manual operating member for starting and stopping said motor, a needle support movable across said record support, means derivin its motion from said operating member or lifting the needle support from record engaging position and moving the same back to initial position, and a guard member movable with respect to said operating member and associated with said record support movable between operative and inoperative position according to the position of said operating member.

11. A sound reproducing mechanism comprising a motor, a record support driven thereby, a shell enclosing said motor and record support, an operatmg member manually operable from the exterior of said shell and a guard member associated with said record support and movable with respect to said operating member, and means whereby successive movements in the samedirectionv of said operating member will alternately start and stop said motor and move said guard member between operative and inoperative positions.

12. A sound reproducing mechanism coml a record support driven prising a motor d member associated with thereby, a guar 'record engaging position and move said guardE member to inoperative position.

13, A sound reproducing mechanlsm com- 104pr1s1ng a motor, a record support driven thereby, a needle support, a guard memberassociated with said record support, a brake for said motor and a, rotary spindle having parts thereon to move said guardmember into record-locking position, move the needle to starting position, lower the needle into engagement with the record and release the brake.

ERWIN J. PANISH. 

